N. Ramchander Rao Visits Relay Hunger Strike Camp, Demands Immediate Payment of Pending Arrears
CityLightBuzz: Hyderabad, August 19: BJP Telangana State President N. Ramchander Rao demanded that the Telangana government immediately increase the stipends of AYUSH PG doctors and house surgeons on par with their Allopathy counterparts and release all pending arrears.
Rao visited the relay hunger strike camp of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy) PG medical students and house surgeons at Dr. B.R.K.R. Government Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Erragadda, where students have been protesting for the past 16 days. He expressed solidarity with the protesting doctors on behalf of the BJP.
‘End Discrimination Against AYUSH Doctors’
Speaking at the protest, Rao alleged that the Congress government was discriminating against AYUSH medical students despite their working alongside Allopathy doctors and contributing to public healthcare.
He said successive governments had failed to revise the stipends of PG students and house surgeons in Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy for several years.
Rao recalled that a 2006 Government Order in undivided Andhra Pradesh provided for equal treatment of students from Indian Systems of Medicine (AYUSH) and Allopathy. However, he alleged that AYUSH stipends have remained unchanged since 2016 after the formation of Telangana.
Difference in Stipends Between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Rao highlighted the disparity between the stipends being paid in Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
According to him, Andhra Pradesh pays ₹60,000 per month to AYUSH PG students and ₹25,000 to house surgeons, while Telangana currently pays ₹30,000 to PG students and ₹13,000 to house surgeons. He termed the difference discriminatory and demanded that Telangana immediately revise the stipends on par with Allopathy and Andhra Pradesh and clear all pending
dues. Cites Court Directions
The BJP state president said courts have issued directions supporting equal stipend payments to AYUSH PG students, house surgeons and interns.
He demanded that the Telangana government implement the applicable court directions and ensure that AYUSH medical students receive their full stipends without further delay.Rao also pointed out that the Union Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi established a dedicated Ministry of AYUSH to promote traditional systems of medicine and strengthen medical education.He questioned why Telangana was not implementing similar measures despite neighbouring states providing higher stipends.BJP Warns of Intensified Agitation
Rao criticised the government for allegedly failing to respond to the students’ 16-day protest and said AYUSH students and doctors play an important role in the state’s public healthcare system.
He appealed to the government to immediately address their concerns, increase stipends on par with Allopathy and release pending arrears.
Rao warned that if the state government failed to act, the BJP would intensify its agitation in support of AYUSH medical students and house surgeons.
